Government Delegation Meets JI at Mansoorah as Party Presents Three Demands
LAHORE: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has presented three major demands, including the abolition of the petroleum levy, during talks with a government delegation at its headquarters in Mansoorah amid its nationwide shutter-down strike.
The demands include the withdrawal of the petroleum levy, changes to agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and a reduction in the price of bread.
According to reports, a government delegation comprising Senator Rana Sanaullah, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Salman Rafique visited Mansoorah for negotiations. JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also participated in the talks, while the JI negotiating team was led by Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch.
The JI delegation also included Deputy Secretary Farasat Shah, Islamabad Emir Nasrullah Randhawa, Lahore Emir Ziauddin Ansari and Naveed Ali Baig.
Presenting the party’s demands, Liaquat Baloch said the abolition of the petroleum levy was their first demand. The party also called for ending IPP agreements and reducing electricity prices.
The government committee said the demands were legitimate but noted that petroleum prices would have to be considered in the context of international market conditions. It reiterated that providing relief to the public remained the government’s priority.
Government Open to JI Proposals
Addressing a joint press briefing after the meeting, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the government had heard JI’s proposals regarding a reduction in the petroleum levy and would consider them.
He said the government was making efforts to provide continuous relief to ordinary citizens. However, he added that Pakistan was still recovering from a serious economic crisis and had not completely emerged from it.
Iqbal said international credit rating agencies were continuously improving Pakistan’s rating, which he described as an indication that the economy was moving toward improvement.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said reducing inflation and petroleum prices was also the government’s objective.
He said the international situation and the war had pushed up petroleum prices, placing an additional burden on the public. He added that JI had claimed to have proposals that could help reduce inflation and petroleum prices, and the government was willing to examine them.
Rana Sanaullah said a team of petroleum experts would hold detailed discussions with JI’s experts, similar to the mechanism previously adopted in the power sector.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said JI’s protests had entered their 19th day and were focused on everyday problems faced by the public rather than any personal agenda.
He said the party knew where costs could be reduced to lower the petroleum levy and would provide a team of experts to negotiate with the government on the basis of relevant data.
Hafiz Naeem said the party had three major demands: reduction in the petroleum levy, reforms concerning IPPs and a reduction in bread prices.
He said JI could develop a mechanism to bring down the price of bread and provide relief to the public.
Hafiz Naeem further claimed that at one point during the Iran-US conflict, international oil prices had fallen to around $74 per barrel, but petroleum prices in Pakistan were not reduced accordingly.
He said the party understood both international and domestic economic factors and would not make unreasonable demands, adding that it would explain the matter to the media.
The talks took place as JI continued its nationwide shutter-down strike against the petroleum levy, high electricity prices and other issues affecting the public.
